Book 11 Chapter 3

The Betrayer and the Betrayed

"Sect Leader!"

Majinga called out to Nabaekcheon cautiously. His low voice was laden with heavy tension.

"There are more important matters than that."

Nabaekcheon looked at Majinga with a displeased expression, brimming with the sentiment, 'How can you utter such a preposterous remark that anything in this world is more important than Nayerin?'

"What is it?"

Majinga's expression hardened, as if he were about to reveal the utmost secret. The two eyes of the bronze-skinned giant, reminiscent of a fortress of steel, were emitting an unusual light at that moment. For a moment, Nabaekcheon was gripped by an inexplicable sense of unease.

"Was the tea delicious?"

Was it that difficult to utter these words?

"Of course, it was delicious. But what about it?"

"I'll feel better if it was."

Majinga's fingers moved with imperceptible speed.

"Huk!"

Nabaekcheon gasped for air.

"This, how can this be!!!"

Nabaekcheon's face instantly turned bright red, and cold sweat began to pour out from his entire body. The emotion that surfaced on his face was clearly betrayal. It was an emotion that could only arise from intense betrayal.

"H-how could you do this to me!"

His eyes were still wide open in disbelief at the unbelievable fact.

"The world is cruel,"

Majinga replied indifferently.

"You, you took advantage of my lapse in concentration… Don't you think that's cowardly?"

"Not at all!"

Majinga shook his head nonchalantly. Even the world's cold-blooded killer couldn't act so confidently.

"It's the Sect Leader's fault for showing an opening; it's not my fault for spotting and exploiting it. I believe I did what was natural."

Still in an indifferent tone, his voice was extremely devoid of emotion.

"Krrk!"

Nabaekcheon's face contorted in extreme agony once again. He still couldn't shake off the clear sense of betrayal. Where the fingers of Majinga, the head of the Cheonmu Academy, had moved!

There, a 'pao' (cannon), with its mouth greedily open to devour his 'jang' (general), was baring its blue teeth. His 'jang' was in a position from which it could not escape anywhere. It was a situation perfectly described as being trapped in a dead end, surrounded by enemies. He had quickly taken the 'cha' (chariot) because it was lumbering in front of his 'jol' (pawn), but he never imagined it would come to this.

Checkmate!

Despite being enraged by the betrayal, Nabaekcheon inwardly let out a sound of shock. No matter how hard he tried to find an escape route, Majinga's 'pao' was clearly threatening his 'jang'. No, it was poised for the final blow that would end its life.

The 'sa' (guard) protecting his 'jang' had long since fallen, and no matter how he scanned the chessboard, there were no 'su' (officers) willing to sacrifice their lives for the general. There was nowhere to run.

Nabaekcheon was dumbfounded.

"What are you doing? It's check. If the 'pao' has captured the 'jang', is it 'pao check'?"

Majinga said with a triumphant expression. It was obvious he was taunting him.

"……"

There was no answer. Nabaekcheon seemed to have lost his ability to speak temporarily. A long silence followed amidst the mental panic of the martial arts alliance leader. Then, the head of the Cheonmu Academy suddenly looked around casually.

"Sect Leader~."

After looking around a couple of times, Majinga called out to Nabaekcheon in a subtle voice. However, Nabaekcheon was too busy trying to find a way out of his fatal predicament. The current leader of the martial arts alliance, who was holding the position, responded to the voice of the current head of the Cheonmu Academy after a considerable time.

"What is it? Did you call?"

He didn't even look at Majinga. Majinga didn't care.

"I think we need to call the Shin-gyeon-dae right away."

"Did something urgent happen?"

His gaze still did not leave the chessboard.

"Yes, I think we'll have to file a missing person report. It seems the person playing chess has gone missing. They were right in front of my eyes just a moment ago… I can't find them no matter how much I look around. I hope nothing bad has happened to them… They are our Cheonmu Academy's most precious guest and a pillar supporting the righteous martial arts world, so any accident would be a great loss to the entire martial arts community."

Majinga said with a beaming smile. For reference, his eyesight, while not exceptional, was so good that he could discern objects 300 'jang' away. However, Nabaekcheon was also a seasoned veteran. He wouldn't give up everything so easily to such provocation.

"That person is currently in the hands of a heartless individual, desperately trying to find an escape route, so there's no need to call the Shin-gyeon-dae!"

Nabaekcheon replied in a calm but frigid voice. He still had one last move, a secret weapon. His eyes were filled with a desperate resolve. Suddenly, the martial arts alliance leader turned his gaze and shot a glare at the head of the Cheonmu Academy.

'Huk!'

At that fearsome gaze, Majinga couldn't help but flinch. He felt the aura of a warrior preparing for a life-or-death battle.

"Hehehe, hey? Jin-ga…"

A smile, like a spring breeze, briefly appeared on his face, which had been like granite with a razor-sharp sharpness. The dignity, presence, and awe that had enveloped him had seemingly taken a vacation, leaving no trace.

Nabaekcheon called out to Majinga in an infinitely soft and friendly voice. His clasped hands overflowed with even a hint of subservience.

"No."

Majinga said sternly.

"Oh my! You!"

"No."

A firm refusal followed once again.

"Can't you just let me take one step back?"

"Absolutely not."

"Even though I'm asking you like this?"

Nabaekcheon was now threatening Majinga to compromise with power. However, Majinga's attitude was unyielding.

"The person I despise the most is someone who succumbs to power. I can never do that."

"Oh…"

Nabaekcheon clicked his tongue.

"You're too stubborn. The philosophy of respecting elders still exists proudly in this world."

Having failed using power and background, Nabaekcheon now wielded age as a weapon. However, it was ineffective.

"I'll consider it if this world splits in two."

"You're too harsh!"

"The world of competition is cold! That's all there is to it."

"It's just once, how can you not agree?"

The martial arts alliance leader put on the most pitiful expression he could muster. The operation code name was 'Evoke Sympathy'.

Majinga wondered how many people would truly know this side of the righteous martial arts alliance leader. Except when he was with Majinga, he had never shown such a demeanor to anyone else. Of course, the Nayerin matter was an exception, and to others, Nabaekcheon remained a dignified and strong pillar of the righteous martial arts world.

Nabaekcheon's strategy was one that had received high praise in many places, but the opponent's defense was like an impregnable wall. It seemed Majinga's hands were not only iron fists but also made of steel.

"Never! Absolutely not."

"Krrk! Stubborn as iron!"

"Please say I have integrity, if possible."

"I've lost! This will never happen in the next battlefield!"

Finally, Nabaekcheon had to admit his bitter defeat.

"I look forward to it."

Majinga, who replied, showed the ease of a victor. Nabaekcheon, shedding tears of regret, resolved to make up for it in the next battleground tomorrow. The next battlefield was none other than the universe.

The universe on the board!

Go was the next battlefield. The match ended that day with Nabaekcheon's defeat. As a result, the alcohol bill that evening fell on Nabaekcheon. Such a high-stakes gamble among the top leadership, accompanied by drinking! If it were to be revealed, it would have caused a tremendous stir, a terrifying story. Fortunately, no one was around them at that moment. Even the guards at the entrance were his loyal followers, so he could rest assured. Therefore, Majinga could wholeheartedly enjoy this victory.